Body massager and/or cosmetic applicator



United States Patent inventor David E. Zimmer Bridgeport, Connecticut Appl. No. 713,985

Filed March 18, 1968 Patented Nov. 24, 1970 Assignee David E. Zimmer, Trustee,

Bridgeport, Connecticut BODY MASSAGER AND/OR COSMETIC APPLICATOR [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,539,299 5/1925 Cheney.... 1211/57); 2,103,261 12/1937 Hughes 128/57 2,258,93l 10/1941 Heeretal. 128/57 I I FOREIGN PATENTS 17,580 '0/1897 GreatBritain 128/57 Primary Examiner-L. W. Trapp Attorney-Arthur T. F attibene ABSTRACT: A body massager and/or cosmetic applicator which includes a base member having a plurality of openings formed therein in which a ball-type roller is retained for relative rotation. The arrangement is such that the peripheral portion of each ball roller is extended to at least one side of the base member whereby the ball rollers may be placed in rolling engagement with that part of the body to be massaged and/or to which a cosmetic or beauty cream is to be applied.

BODY MASSAGER AND/OR COSMETIC APPLICATOR THE PROBLEM It has been long recognized that regular applications of beautifying body creams and/or lotions, and massage to ones face or body are extremely helpful in maintaining ones care and beauty. Heretofore it was customary to apply such beautifying creams, cosmetics and lotions to ones face or body by simply spreading such creams or cosmetics over the face or body by hand. However, this manner of application required the soiling of ones hands with such lotion or cream, thereby preventing one from performing other acts or functions with the hands until the task of applying the cream or lotion was completed and/or the hands wiped or washed.

OBJECTS It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an applicator-massager for'applying a body lotion or creamto the face or portions of the body in a manner in which the hands are not required to be soiled.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved cosmetic applicator which is capable of effecting a massaging operation to the face or body as the cosmetic is being applied.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means for massaging the face or a portion of the body for relieving tension and/or muscular aches, pains and discomforts due to stress and strains.

Another feature of this device resides in the provision that the cosmetic applicator and massager is relatively simple in structure, can be easily fabricated, and is positive in operation.

S-UMMARY or INVENTION In accordance with this invention the foregoing objects and other features and advantages are attained by an applicator and massager comprising ofa rigid base member having an enlarged head end and a connected handle end portion. The applicator end portion of the member is provided with a plurality of openings with means disposed therein for retaining a ball roller for relative rotation therein. The arrangement is such that a peripheral portion of the ball rollers extend to at least one side of the applicator end portion so that in operation the ball rollers may be disposed into rolling engagement with that portion of the face or body to be massaged and/or to which the cosmetic or cream is to be applied.

' FEATURES as to effect positive retension of the ball rollers, yet allowing the ball rollers to be readily removed for easy assembly and/or cleaning or replacement. I

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision wherein massage applicator can be constructed so as to define a closure or cover for the container in which the cream or cosmetic to be applied is distributed and/or dispensed.

Another feature of this'invention resides in the provision that the ball rollers may be provided with either a smooth surface and/or an irregular or ridged surface.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent when considered in view of the drawings and specification in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of the applicator constructed in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 on FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a detail view of the ball roller illustrating a modified form of the invention.

FIGS. 4 and'S illustrate other modified forms of ball construction applicable for use in this invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates the invention as applied to a closure or cover for ajar in which a body lotion or cream is distributed.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a massage-applicator l0 constructed in accordance with the present invention. As shown the massage-applicator 10 comprises a rigid base member 11 having'an enlarged head end or applicator-massager end portion 11A and an integrally connected handle. end portion 118. It will be understood that the rigid base member 11 may be formed of any suitable material as for example plastic, metal and/or the like. However, for purposes of economy it is preferred that the base .member 11 be formed of suitable plastic material. Formed in th head end portion 11A of the base member 11 are aplu'rality of apertures or openings 12. In the illustrated form three such apertures or openings 12 are provided. However, it will be understood that the number of apertures 12 may be varied as may be desired.

Disposed within each of the apertures 12 is a retaining means 13 as in FIGS. 1 and 2. Each retaining means 13 comprises an annular or cylindrically shaped member which is suitably secured to the periphery of the respective opening 12 intermediate theends thereof. One end 13A of the retainer 13 is inwardly turned to define a spherical seat 14 conforming to a peripheral portion of a ball roller 15 adapted to be retained in the seat of the retainer means. The other end 138 of the ball retainer 13 defines a cylindrical section having an inturned bead or lip 16 circumscribing the inner periphery thereof which forms the means for retaining the ball 15 within the retainer 13. The arrangement is such that each of the ball rollers 15 is retained in free rolling engagement with respect to the retainer with a peripheral or portion of the balls surface extending beyond the ends 13A, 13B of the retainer 13. As shown, the internal diameter of the cylindrical portion 138 of the retainer means 13 is equal to at least the major diameter of the ball 15 with the ball 15 beingretained in rolling relationship between the spherical seat 14 and lip or bead 16.

In the illustrated construction the major diameter of the ball is confined between the lip 16 and the seat 14. Because one end 138 is sized to the diameter of the ball 15, it will be noted that the balls 15 can be readily removed from their respective retainers for replacement, repair, cleaning and/or the like,

simply by applying slight pressure on the end of the ball extending beyond the spherical seat end 13A of the retainer 'means 13. The ease with which the balls can be popped into and out of their respective retainers facilitates assembly.

It is to be noted that a peripheral portion or surface of the ball extending to one side of the major diameter extends beyond the ends 13A, 13B of retainers so that the balls can be placed in rolling engagement with the surface or skin of the body when the device 10 is placed in operation. In operation the applicator-massager 10 is utilized to apply body creams or lotions to the body merely by placing or scooping some cream or lotion on the applicator end portion 11A and thereafter placing the applicator with cream or lotion thereon to ones body so that the ball rollers are disposed in rolling engagement with a portion of the body to which the cream or lotion is to be applied. Application of the cream to the body is effected by moving the applicator over the face or body with the ball rollers 15 in rolling engagement with the face or body. In this manner the cream is uniformly spread over the surface of the body and at the same time, depending upon the applied presprovided with a smooth surface as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 or the surface of the ball rollers 15A may be provided with a series of circumscribing grooves 20. As seen in FIG. 3, the circumscribing grooves 20 are arranged over the surface of the ball 15A so that no more than two grooves will intersect at any an P doth, rolling engagement with In another form-of theinvention'the ba'll rollers 158 may be yprovid'edwith a seriesof circums'crib'mg ridges 21. In this arrangement theridges;define th? majqrcircumference of the ,ball rollers which maintain the 'balllSB in freely rotatable relationship-withinthe retainer'll 1 v In another form of the inventionthe applicator 25" may be I constructed so as to define a cover or closure for th. 1 0r container Z Ginwhich thecosmetic or lotion is distributed'As -=bestseenin FlG; '6', th'e cosmetic jar 26 comprises a container having an open end which 'may be provided with either exter- "nal or in'ternalthread orthetlike 27'. The applicator 25 in this form of the invention comprises'a lid or closure having a circumscribing 1 depending wall 25A which may" suitably be thr ad acns s awirh-th tht dsll rs s b ns t -j opening 26A The applicator 25 is thus detachably-se'cured to the jar 26 in the nature of alidor closure; H f I 25 as illustrated in The surface. portionofthe lid or closure tiall'timesto provide ia surface FIGI6 is provided with a plurality-of openings 28 e'achhavin'g,

a-'retainer,29 =secured therein ina manner similar to that 7 5 While the'invention has been described with respect to particu'lar embbdimeuts thereof, itwill be readily appreciateda'nd r ,ur derst oodithatv variations and modifications may be made i without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

tivernovement with respect to said ret'ainer means, said hereinbefore described with respectyto FIGS. 1 and and a t ball roller 30is disposed in each of the retainers 29, as'hereinbeforedescribedsAccordingly;-it will benoted' that in applica- 'tion.and=-use the cqver-or-lid ZS-may be'alterna tely'employed Y as anapplicator-massager as described with respect to -FIGS.'1

I "and 2. hi this form of the-invention anapplicator-massager maybe conveniently dispensedwith each, jaiof cosmetic crearnrq; a

- said retainen;

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said rigid base member includes an enlarged head, end portion in which said openings are formed, and a connected :reduce'd handled portion to facilitatethe manipulation of said massage-applica- 4. The invention as, defined in claim 1 wherein at least one i of said rollers includes a roughened surface.

=5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said roughened surface of said roller is defined as a'plutality of in? tersecting grooves circumscribing the surface of said roller.

6.'The" inventi on as'defined in claim 5 wherein not more than'two such grooves intersect atany given point- ,9.' The'invention as defin d' n claim 1 wherein said base ;member'inclludes-a depending circumscribing flangehaving a q 5 thread portion by which said member is. adaptedto be 1 threadedly'engaged with a jar.

cosmeticmateriahand a cover, thereforcomprisingr massage means having a peripheralportion thereof ex-.

' tending to at least one side of said retainer ineans, each of said retainer means including a ring member, said massage means comprising a spherically shaped roller retained for free relative rotation in each of said retainer ring members whereby each of said rollers is free to rotate .within its respective ring member when said applicatormassager is applied to a portion ofthebo'dy to bentassaged', and said ring mernber including a cylindrical member having one end'inwardly deformed to'defme'a spherically shaped seat extending to one side of the major a-rigid-rnember adapted to form a cover for said receptacle;

said-rigid member having a plurality of openings spatially disposed in the plane thereof;

a ring-shaped retainer connected to said member in each of said openings;

' said retainer including a cylindrical section having a length which is less than the diameter thereof;

' said cylindrical section extendingto'at least one side of base 'rnember;

Sphericalsean,

said seat} I i said cylinder having its other end exten majorcircumference of said roller; and I said other end having an internalv bead for frictionally retaining said roller in rolling engagement within said ringwhereby a surface portion of said. roller extends beyond I v the internal bead of said retainer so that saitl'rollers'can"v be disposed in rolling engagement with a portion ofthe body to be massaged.

irical member extending Ito-the other 'side "ot;t he'- major circumference of said roller, and said other end' having an internal bead for retaining said roller withinv The invention asdefined in claim 1 wherein said roller is releasably retained within-said-cylindrical retainermemb'er.

l0; .rn'combination with-areceptor adapted to contain a one end of said section being inwardly deformed to define a ding beyond the 

